What You Need to Know About Joint Tenancy
Let’s just get right to the point; joint tenancy is a legal arrangement involving two or more individuals co-owning property. All parties share equal rights, title, and obligations. “Property” can include bank accounts, businesses, or personal items but joint tenancy most often pertains to real estate. 
These ownership arrangements can be made between business partners, married or unmarried couples, friends, or family members. Joint tenancy also includes right of survivorship. This means that if one owner passes away, the surviving owner(s) can immediately take ownership without going to probate court.
Right of survivorship is an important distinction of joint tenancy when compared to other co-tenancy options. It carries certain benefits and drawbacks depending on the owners’ financial situation and ownership goals.
How Does Joint Tenancy Work?
There are four requirements to establish joint tenancy.
- All owners must acquire the property title at the same time.
- Names of all owners must be on the title.
- Ownership is divided equally between each person.
- Each person is entitled to possession of assets in their entirety.
All four criteria must be met in order to create a joint tenancy. If one is not met, the arrangement will fall into a different joint ownership category.
In real estate, joint tenants share the responsibility for paying off any loans and the property’s value is divided equally. In joint tenancy of bank and brokerage accounts, all parties have equal access to the funds. Any party involved in brokerage accounts can perform investment transactions at their own discretion.
Because all parties share equal ownership, the property cannot be sold without support from the other owners. However, tenants can transfer ownership to another person, thus severing the joint tenancy contract. New joint owners can then enter into another co-ownership plan called tenancy in common, a joint tenancy alternative that we’ll discuss later.
Right of Survivorship
The right of survivorship inclusion ensures that when one owner dies, their portion of ownership is automatically passed to the surviving joint tenants. This element supersedes any instructions left in the deceased’s will, so property cannot be transferred to heirs. This expedites the transfer of ownership process because the co-owners can sidestep probate court with minimal effort.
When ownership is transferred, the remaining joint tenants will share equal ownership of the deceased’s portion as well as responsibility for any related debts. When the tenancy is reduced to a single owner, that person can bequeath ownership as they see fit through their will.
Transfer of ownership under rights of survivorship is not complicated but steps may vary depending on the type of property in question. The surviving co-owner(s) automatically own the deceased’s shares. However, clarifying ownership changes on record may still be required
With real estate, in order for the deed to accurately reflect the new ownership, the survivor will need to file one or both of the following documents with the appropriate government office:
- A notarized affidavit of death.
- A certified copy of the joint tenant’s death certificate.
Pros and Cons of Joint Tenancy
Joint tenancy can be an ideal situation for many but also create issues for others. Consider these positives and negatives of a joint tenancy arrangement. Let’s first take a look at the potential positives.
Ownership Becomes Affordable
All co-owners are equally responsible for paying off debts related to the property in joint tenancy. This legal requirement of joint owners ensures that financial responsibilities are shared, making ownership much more affordable. At the same time, this protects a co-owner from having a partner maliciously attempting to leave them with a load of debt.
Pursuing joint tenancy also raises loan approval odds. Having additional owners can affect qualification criteria such as debt-to-income, which can lead to both a loan approval and a better interest rate.
Joint Tenancy Will Avoid Probate
When someone dies, their assets are held until the probate court interprets their will. They decide if the will is valid and what assets and liabilities are to be transferred from the deceased. Any remaining assets are distributed to heirs according to the will’s direction.
The process is more complex when there is no will. Without any indication of how to disburse assets, the court must research and decide how to divide property. This can add more time to an already lengthy probate process, keeping beneficiaries from receiving their share until its resolutiom.
Because joint tenancy automatically transfers to the co-owner, often a spouse or business partner, the property does not become part of the probate process. For those needing funds or decision-making power immediately, this is a significant benefit of joint tenancy. In business cases, it assures a fluid transition to new ownership and avoids disruption of the business.
Now let’s take a look at a few of the potential drawbacks:
Property Eventually Goes to Probate
Probate on property is avoided when there is at least one surviving member in the agreement. However, when they pass on, the property will go to probate court if no other estate planning documents are in place. The sole owner can update their estate plan to include the property as an inheritance but the process, and all inherent delays, will be inevitable.
Disagreements Can Create Difficulties
Divorcing spouses or acrimonious business partners often try to take control of shared assets. While joint tenancy decreases the potential for abuse, it can create challenges when all parties have to agree to any movement of shares. The property cannot be sold without everyone’s approval.
Financial Problems
If a co-owner loses a job or falls into financial hardship, the other owners are still responsible for keeping up with the mortgage and other debt payments. Furthermore, if a joint tenant fails to pay taxes, the IRS could place a lien on the property.
Tax Disadvantages
When a non-spouse is given joint tenant status, the value they are given is subject to a gift tax. If someone with a $100,000 property makes a friend a joint tenant, for example, they will be subject to a gift tax on the $50,000 they are giving.
Joint tenancy can also cause income tax benefits to be lost, along with exclusions for estate and capital gains taxes in certain states. If a property is held in joint tenancy, the surviving owner has to pay income taxes in the event of a sale. Heirs, however, can sell property without paying that tax.
Tenancy in Common: The Preferred Joint Tenancy Alternative
Joint tenancy may be the best choice in many situations. However, courts and many individuals prefer the flexibility of a tenancy in common arrangement. There are some key differences between joint tenancy and tenancy in common, with the latter boasting major advantages:
- Property does not have to be split equally between owners.
- Co-owners can legally sell their portion of property without consent from other owners.
- Joint tenants can be added into the agreement at any time.
- A co-owner may use their share as collateral for loans and be individually responsible for the new debt.
- Co-owners can pass assets to heirs in their will. Surviving owners will receive the remainder if there is no clarification in a will.
- If a joint tenant becomes disabled, the other owners can still have access to their shares. Co-owners can sell shares of property without waiting for a ruling from probate court.
Why Joint Tenancy Can Make Sense
Dubbed the “poor man’s will”, joint tenancy developed a reputation as an inelegant — and inadvisable — method of bequeathing assets. Rather than draw up a will, owners can just add heirs as co-owners, circumventing an otherwise drawn-out court process. For many reasons, joint tenancy for these purposes is not recommended.
So when does joint tenancy make sense?
Joint tenancy can work well for spouses specifically for the right of survivorship. When a spouse dies, especially suddenly, avoiding the probate process can be seriously advantageous for a widower in need of money. In cases where co-owners share mutual respect, a common vision, and long-term goals, joint tenancy can be a sound option.
Talk to an Attorney or Financial Planner
Property ownership is an investment strategy that deserves thoughtful consideration. Numerous opportunities exist for you to take advantage of the financial benefits of ownership, even if you feel that your financial or credit situation is disqualifying.
Talking with an attorney or financial planner is the first step in discovering how to enjoy the perks of investing. To start on your path, schedule a free financial assessment with NextGen-Wealth today.
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